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Trevor Ariza trade grades: Who won deal between Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards?

The Suns have a history of wheeling and dealing. Here is a closer look at some notable trades in Suns history. azcentral sports

Phoenix Suns trade history: Notable deals

The Suns have a history of wheeling and dealing. Here is a closer look at some notable trades in Suns history.
azcentral sports

Bledsoe to Milwaukee (2017) - The Suns shipped the disgruntled point guard to the Bucks in exchange for center Greg Monroe and a first and second round draft pick. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Phoenix Suns trade history: Notable deals

Bledsoe to Milwaukee (2017) - The Suns shipped the disgruntled point guard to the Bucks in exchange for center Greg Monroe and a first and second round draft pick.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Tucker out (2017) - The trade: Toronto sent Jared Sullinger, along with its 2017 and 2018 second-round picks, to Phoenix for P.J. Tucker. Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Phoenix Suns trade history: Notable deals

Tucker out (2017) - The trade: Toronto sent Jared Sullinger, along with its 2017 and 2018 second-round picks, to Phoenix for P.J. Tucker.
Michael Chow/azcentral sports

Goodbye, Markieff (2016) - The trade: the Suns sent Markieff Morris to the Wizards for a draft pick that would stay with the Wizards if it is in the draft's top nine. The Suns also acquired DeJuan Blair and Kris Humphries. Jeff Swinger/USA TODAY Sports

Phoenix Suns trade history: Notable deals

Goodbye, Markieff (2016) - The trade: the Suns sent Markieff Morris to the Wizards for a draft pick that would stay with the Wizards if it is in the draft's top nine. The Suns also acquired DeJuan Blair and Kris Humphries.
Jeff Swinger/USA TODAY Sports

Salary dump (2015) - The trade: The Suns sent Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger to create salary cap space in their pursuit of free agent LaMarcus Aldridge. The Suns received an unconditional 2020 second-round pick from the Pistons for sending out $8.4 million in salary for next season. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Phoenix Suns trade history: Notable deals

Salary dump (2015) - The trade: The Suns sent Marcus Morris, Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger to create salary cap space in their pursuit of free agent LaMarcus Aldridge. The Suns received an unconditional 2020 second-round pick from the Pistons for sending out $8.4 million in salary for next season.
Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Knight added (2015) - The trade: The Suns sent center Miles Plumlee and rookie point guard Tyler Ennis to Milwaukee, and the Lakers' first-round pick to Philadelphia. In return they landed combo guard Brandon Knight from the Bucks. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Phoenix Suns trade history: Notable deals

Knight added (2015) - The trade: The Suns sent center Miles Plumlee and rookie point guard Tyler Ennis to Milwaukee, and the Lakers' first-round pick to Philadelphia. In return they landed combo guard Brandon Knight from the Bucks.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

IT sent to Boston (2015) - The trade: Isaiah Thomas, on a four-year contract with decreasing salaries, was dealt to the Celtics for Cleveland's 2016 first-round pick and swingman Marcus Thornton, a volume scorer. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Phoenix Suns trade history: Notable deals

IT sent to Boston (2015) - The trade: Isaiah Thomas, on a four-year contract with decreasing salaries, was dealt to the Celtics for Cleveland's 2016 first-round pick and swingman Marcus Thornton, a volume scorer.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Getting younger (2013) - The trade: Suns get Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee and a future first round pick from the Pacers for Luis Scola. Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports

Phoenix Suns trade history: Notable deals

Getting younger (2013) - The trade: Suns get Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee and a future first round pick from the Pacers for Luis Scola.
Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports

Adding a point guard (2013) - The trade: The Suns were part of a 3-team trade with the Bucks and Clippers. As part of the deal, Phoenix sent Jared Dudley to Los Angeles and received Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Phoenix Suns trade history: Notable deals

Adding a point guard (2013) - The trade: The Suns were part of a 3-team trade with the Bucks and Clippers. As part of the deal, Phoenix sent Jared Dudley to Los Angeles and received Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler.
David Wallace/azcentral sports

Loss of a legend (2012) - The trade: The Suns sent Steve Nash to the Lakers for four draft picks (2 1st-round, 2 2nd-round) They turned the first 1st-round pick into Archie Goodwin and have another first-round pick coming to them. David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Phoenix Suns trade history: Notable deals

Loss of a legend (2012) - The trade: The Suns sent Steve Nash to the Lakers for four draft picks (2 1st-round, 2 2nd-round) They turned the first 1st-round pick into Archie Goodwin and have another first-round pick coming to them.
David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports

Of Washington, Chris Bengel writes: "While the haul is quite a bit to surrender for potentially just one year of Ariza, it's a move that could really help the Wizards on both ends of the floor. The veteran forward is still an above-average defender and Washington has really struggled on that side of the court."

Of Phoenix he writes: "In this trade, the Suns were definitely looking to bolster their backcourt and they were able to add some depth in the form of Rivers. However, the main attraction of this deal has to be acquiring a player of Oubre's caliber. The 2015 first-round pick is set to become a restricted free agent in 2019, which is most likely why the Wizards shipped him out of town. With a young team like the Suns, they're surveying their young assets in an attempt to figure out who could be a part of their long-term future. During the 2018-19 season thus far, Oubre is averaging 13.0 points and shooting 43.3 percent from the field. He's a very explosive wing player that can slide right into Ariza's starting spot upon his arrival."

Rohan Nadkarni wrote of Washington: "Whatever. Ariza is a perfectly solid player. He will give Washington intelligent defense, a three-point threat (36% from behind the arc), and a valuable locker room presence. Ariza is a glue guy, and he played really well for two seasons in D.C. from 2011–13. But for the Wizards to trade a young player in Oubre for someone who is essentially a rental (Ariza is on a one-year deal) is monumentally short-sighted. Ariza does not change Washington’s ceiling whatsoever. "

He writes of Phoenix: "Ariza was the hottest name on the trade market at the time of this deal. Basically every contender could have used him. Are we sure this is the best Phoenix could do? Picking up Oubre isn’t bad, but the Suns also have two lottery picks of their own who need time at small forward. Rivers is a capable vet, but he doesn’t really fill the Suns’ glaring, blinding, intense-with-the-passion-of-a-thousand-suns hole at point guard. I can’t completely rip Phoenix for picking up Oubre after defending him in the last section, but the Suns had an extremely coveted trade chip and and cashed it for two players, one of whom is redundant from a roster standpoint, and another whom won’t truly help them where they need help the most. This is hair-pulling levels of infuriating. If Phoenix is shipping out vets because it still can’t be competitive, why not try harder for a future first or maybe a young point guard? The Suns shouldn’t have been in a rush to trade Ariza, and the trade feels a little underwhelming after how wide the market appeared for him."

He explains: "It would have been really fun to see Ariza go to the Lakers, Rockets, Thunder or any number of teams that are actually good/contenders/interesting. Maybe he still ends up in one of those places somehow, but from a league-wide intrigue standpoint, Ariza on the Wizards is a pretty big letdown."

Jordan Greer writes of the Wizards: "How much can Ariza really change in Washington? He's a role player on an expiring contract, and he doesn't immediately push the Wizards back into the playoff picture, let alone the upper tier of the Eastern Conference. This all comes back to incompetence at the top of the organization. Of course the initial deal was a mess, but Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld has made puzzling decisions for years, and owner Ted Leonsis doesn't seem to care. Washington probably couldn't have afforded to keep Oubre, a restricted free agent next summer, but re-signing Ariza should be easier. The cap situation is hovering over all the team's decisions. Perhaps Ariza helps push Washington to 40-plus wins and a first-round exit. It's not great — but it's very Wizards."

He writes of the Suns: "How this trade is ultimately measured could come down to what Oubre becomes. The absurdity of the process means Suns owner Robert Sarver is no better than Leonsis or Grunfeld here. He fired former general manager Ryan McDonough right before the season. A more experienced GM might have been able to squeeze more out of another trade suitor. Then again, should anyone be shocked? With the Suns and Wizards involved, dysfunction is standard."

Gerald Bourguet writes of Washington: "The Wizards got the best player in this trade, and one they’re familiar with, but that doesn’t necessarily make it a home run. Ariza is a good two-way player, and he should help stabilize a dysfunctional locker room to some extent, but by the same token, isn’t that what he was supposed to do in Phoenix?"

He writes of Phoenix: "Believe it or not, the Phoenix Suns may have won a trade without a full-time general manager in place! With Ariza looking completely disinterested and the team floundering, it was only a matter of time before the 15-year veteran was either dealt or bought out. That time came at the earliest possible point when Dec. 15 arrived and Ariza was eligible to be traded. There’s something to be said about sunk costs, with that $15 million contract for Ariza looking more and more like a blunder with each passing day. On the other hand, the Suns were able to flip him for an intriguing 23-year-old in Kelly Oubre Jr., and padded their depth with Austin Rivers. Both are expiring contracts, which complicates their value, but also allows the team to cut ties if they don’t work out."

William Lou writes of Phoenix: "Where does Oubre fit? He won't cut it as a small-ball power forward, and Booker is locked into a maximum deal to play shooting guard, leaving Oubre to fight Jackson and Bridges for scraps. How is that productive?"

Of Washington, he writes: "This is yet another Band-Aid solution by Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld, who dealt away a prospect when he should be looking to rebuild."

Suns just got a STEAL for an unhappy Trevor Ariza on a 1-year contract. Kelly Oubre is an excellent wing that has been playing great as of late, and Austin Rivers is a quality guard that will see a lot of minutes in Phoenix.